Birmingham Highlight: General

The Forest Park Historic District is quickly becoming one of the most romantic streets in Birmingham. In just a short walk, you can frolic through the garden of your dreams at Shoppe, have a cocktail at Juniper’s botanical oasis, give your hair a little love at Dream Boat, AND take a stroll though the most endearing general store and cafe that Birmingham has ever seen, General.

General is the neighborhood cafe and general store that dreams are made of. When you enter this local sanctuary you will immediately feel like you’ve been transported to an artisan playground. Every square foot is drenched in character. From the hand-painted murals to the ornate floral arrangements, the ambiance is flawless.

The pastry case is ALWAYS calling us. Our friends at Last Call Baking will never leave you disappointed. These little delicacies are in high demand and we know why. This isn’t your typical cookie and danish situation. The pastries at General are always unexpected and elevated. The flavor selection and artistry that go behind these confections are incredible. Don’t just take our word for it, you must visit yourself. While we have tried almost every pastry they have to offer, on this visit we thoroughly enjoyed the Elote Corn Croissant, Olive Oil cake, and Japanese Almond Bread. The Olive Oil cake had just come out of the oven and was still warm - we devoured it in record time.

General serves lunch from 11am-3pm Thursday through Saturday. We tried the Chicken Salad Plate and the Mac Grilled Cheese - phenomenal. The lunch dishes are all extremely fresh and made with intention. Everything is an experience.

The general store is hard to put into words. It feels both effortless and ethereal. Every item begs to be held. There is a little bit of everything here. You could find a house-warming gift or a self care splurge for yourself. General has something special for every room in your home. Even their restrooms are a vibe. It is very clear that not a detail goes unnoticed and we are in awe of every element.

If you would like to see a little bit of the magic for yourself, you can follow them on instagram or visit their website. Whether you’re in need of a latte and a cozy window seat or a unique place to impress your friends, we know you will feel significant here.

Bustle's Local Valentines Day Gift Guide

Image by Gaia Florals

When it comes to matters of the heart, we think Birmingham is THE sanctuary of love. The beautiful creators and business owners in this city know how to make an impression that lasts. While this community is a remarkable pool of talent and innovation, we tried our best to narrow down some of our favorite spots to grab a Valentines Gift for your honey. If romance isn’t on your February forecast, then by-all-means make this a gift guide for yourself. After the last two years, YOU DESERVE IT.

“Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet.”

— Katharine Lee Bates

Everyone needs one of those go-to shops where you can pop in on a whim and confidently pick up a last minute gift. Charm is THAT place. Just a moment in this little wonderland is self care at it’s finest. Their vintage accessories and ornamental novelties will have the special person in your life feeling like a golden girl. This women owned local haven will always have the most unique gifts for yourself or the ones you love most. Whether you’re having a galentines celebration or a romantic night with your significant other, we highly recommend a visit. You can shop Charm at their new Downtown location or online!

The wonderful founders of Cala, Josh and Melanie Cosio, want to bring something bright to your mornings. Born and raised in California (Cala = California + Alabama), they moved to Birmingham, AL in the summer of 2016 without ever stepping foot in the state before. The pair began roasting coffee in 2021 and have cultivated such a special beverage experience. Each blend is unique and aromatic. Valentines Day is all about giving love and comfort to those that you care for most and the heartfelt blends from Cala do just that. Their light roast is a marriage of Floral notes, Berries, Dried Apricot, Honey, and Jasmine while their dark roast has deep notes of cocoa and nuts. Give a gift of warmth and rejuvenation. Cala recently announced that they will be opening their FIRST brick and mortar in Cahaba Heights this year, so keep your eyes pealed for the in-person shopping experience to come. Until then, you can find them online or at one of their many pop up locations!

Flowers are never a cliche at Gaia. The handcrafted bouquets that come out of this stem shop are truly the beauty that we all need in our lives. These straight-out-of-wonderland arrangements have us believing in magic. Sarah is the powerhouse behind this ethereal escape and we couldn’t be more spellbound by her work. The deep tones in their Valentines Day collection conjure complete romance. We love that you can order an arrangement crafted by the floral goddess herself, or you can take a peak inside their gorgeous shop and create a bouquet on your own. We’ll take an entire garden to-go, please!

By K. Morg

Kelcey is the wonderwoman behind By K. Morg. This multifaceted designer, maker, and illustrator has created a powerful collection of clay earrings that will uplift the soul. We love that each piece is created with confidence in mind. By K. Morg puts humanity and connection at the center of their artistry. Everything about this collection is empowering from product to packaging. If you want your valentine to feel radiant from the inside-out, By K. Morg is where you need to be this holiday. You can shop this beautiful collection online and in the words of the founder herself, “When you shop small, an actual person does the ‘whoa’!"

Naughty But Nice

KettlE Corn Co.

Naughty But Nice is the local artisanal kettle corn company of our dreams. They have lovingly coined the term, “Popheads” for their ever expanding fan base and we couldn’t agree with that title more. NBN has taken one of the most universally beloved snacks and exponentially raised the bar. Our favorite flavors are Green Apple Pie and French Toast. Whether you are a sweet tooth or prefer something savory like their Eugene’s Hot Chicken flavor, they have every taste bud in mind. If your date could do without the chocolate, we think a freshly popped bag of artisanal kettle corn will do the trick. You can shop their amazing line-up online or visit their storefront!

Studio 264

Meredith Taylor is the phenomenal visionary behind this little piece of heaven in Birmingham. Studio 264 is straight out of all our 1970’s fantasies. Their clay and multimedia accessories have an incredible ability to completely captivate anyone who beholds them. We have truly never seen anything like Meredith’s work. Her earrings are inspired and will always capture all the attention in a room. Studio 264 is launching their Sleepover Collection for Valentines Day and we couldn’t be more obsessed! We would happily fall in love with anyone who gifts us a pair of their earrings this holiday season - no glass slipper needed! You can shop their collection on their website or check out their instagram for their next pop-up location.

Chocolata is an ethereal chocolate shop, beautifully nestled downtown on 2nd Avenue North. Each treat is incredibly special and always starts with the highest quality chocolate, made with ingredients from South America. You will immediately feel like you have arrived in a chocolate nirvana upon entering this place. The smell of sipping chocolate and bonbons fill the air and it’s truly something straight out of a fairytale. We love how it’s not only the taste of these delicacies that are elevated. Chocolata has a remarkable way of making each treat just as captivating to look at as they are to taste. If you want your honey to feel special this Valentines Day, Chocolata is the place for you. You can visit their gorgeous storefront and follow their instagram for the most luxurious sugar rush.